Mobile waste storage device

ABSTRACT

A mobile waste storage device is disclosed. The mobile waste storage device includes a storage body and a pair of cover sections. The storage body includes a waste receiving space and a plurality of body fastener receiving passageways. The pair of cover sections is flexibly attached to the storage body and is extendable over each other when covering the waste receiving space. Each cover section includes a cover fastener receiving passageway extending through an end thereof and positioned to correspond with another cover fastener receiving passageway extending through an opposite cover section and one of the plurality of body fastener receiving passageways when the pair of cover sections overlap to cover the waste receiving space.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a waste storage device and, moreparticularly, to a mobile waste storage device.

BACKGROUND

Waste storage devices, including dumpsters and large capacity wastestorage bags, are known in the art. Waste storage bags have becomeincreasingly popular due to their mobility; known waste storage bags arerelatively lightweight and can be moved via handles attached to the bag,thus enabling a wider range of waste applications than a conventionaldumpster. Known waste storage bags, however, do not include a cover orother means of ensuring the waste stays in the bag during movement. Theapplications of known waste storage bags are thus limited by the user'sdesire to avoid spilling the already-stored waste. Spillage duringmovement undermines the purpose of the waste storage bag and increasesthe time required of the user.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention, among others, is to provide a mobile wastestorage device capable of securely enclosing waste material. The mobilewaste storage device includes a storage body and a pair of coversections. The storage body includes a waste receiving space and aplurality of body fastener receiving passageways. The pair of coversections is flexibly attached to the storage body and is extendable overeach other when covering the waste receiving space. Each cover sectionincludes a cover fastener receiving passageway extending through an endthereof and positioned to correspond with another cover fastenerreceiving passageway extending through an opposite cover section and oneof the plurality of body fastener receiving passageways when the pair ofcover sections overlap to cover the waste receiving space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying figures, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile waste storage device accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mobile waste storage device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a fastener, a body fastener receivingpassageway, and a plurality of cover fastener receiving passageways ofthe mobile waste storage device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the fastener, body fastener receivingpassageway, and the plurality of cover fastener receiving passageways,taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a mobile waste storage deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the mobile waste storage deviceof FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a waste management system according tothe invention, which uses a mobile waste storage device and aself-propelled trailer;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mobile waste storage device and theself-propelled trailer of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the mobile waste storage device and theself-propelled trailer of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the waste management system accordingto the invention, which uses a self-propelled crane; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the mobile waste storage device and theself-propelled crane of FIG. 10;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference toembodiments of a mobile waste storage device. This invention may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construedas limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete and still fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art.

A mobile waste storage device 1 according to the invention is shown inFIG. 1. The mobile waste storage device 1 includes a storage body 10, apair of cover sections 20, a plurality of grips 30, and a plurality offasteners 40. The major components of the invention will now bedescribed in greater detail.

The storage body 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, includes first sidepanels 12A, 12B, second side panels 14A, 14B, a bottom panel 16, and aplurality of body fastener receiving passageways 18.

The first side panels 12A, 12B are attached at opposite ends of thebottom panel 16. The first side panels 12A, 12B extend parallel to oneanother and perpendicular to the bottom panel 16. The second side panels14A, 14B are attached at opposite ends of the bottom panel 16 adjacentand perpendicular to the first side panels 12A, 12B, and extend parallelto one another and perpendicular to the bottom panel 16. The first sidepanels 12A, 12B and the second side panels 14A, 14B extend the samedistance from the bottom panel 16, and are attached to one another toform a waste receiving space 19 there between, as shown in FIG. 5. Inthe exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the waste receivingspace 19 is rectangular parallelepiped shaped, but as would beunderstood by those with ordinary skill in the art, the waste receivingspace 19 could be other shapes including a cube or other known shapes.

The first side panels 12A, 12B, the second side panels 14A, 14B, and thebottom panel 16 may be made from any material capable of supporting highloads known to those with ordinary skill in the art, including a rangeof metals, plastics, and fabrics. The material of first side panels 12A,12B, second side panels 14A, 14B, and bottom panel 16 may also beflexible such as a woven polypropylene, woven nylon, or other strong,flexible materials known to those with ordinary skill in the art. Thefirst side panels 12A, 12B, the second side panels 14A, 14B, and thebottom panel 16 may be integrally formed or may be formed individuallyand assembled to create the storage body 10 with the waste receivingspace 19. Additionally, the first side panels 12A, 12B, the second sidepanels 14A, 14B, and the bottom panel 16 may be attached to one anotherby stitching, welding, gluing, or other means of attachment known tothose with ordinary skill in the art, including fasteners and adhesives.

The body fastener receiving passageways 18 are positioned on and extendthrough either the first side panels 12A, 12B or the second side panels14A, 14B, along an edge opposite the bottom panel 16. The body fastenerreceiving passageways 18 are positioned on the side panels 12A, 12B or14A, 14B that are not attached to the pair of cover sections 20, as willbe described below. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, thebody fastener receiving passageways 18 are circular elementsincorporated into the side panels 12A, 12B or 14A, 14B. As would beunderstood by one with ordinary skill in the art, the body fastenerreceiving passageways 18 may be made of any shape and material,including a plastic or metal material, which forms a passagewayextending through the side panels 12A, 12B or 14A, 14B. Also in theexemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, two body fastener receivingpassageways 18 are positioned spaced apart on each side panel 12A, 12Bor 14A, 14B; as would be understood by one with ordinary skill in theart, the body fastener receiving passageways 18 may vary in number andpositioning.

The cover sections 20 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Each cover section 20has a cover panel 22, a plurality of cover handles 24, and a pluralityof cover fastener receiving passageways 26.

The cover panel 22 may include four sides 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D, withside 22A opposite and parallel to side 22C and side 22B opposite andparallel to side 22D. The cover panel 22, as shown in the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 5, is rectangular, but as would be understood by onewith ordinary skill in the art, the cover panel 22 may be a range ofother shapes, including a square. The cover panel 22 may be made of anymaterial capable of supporting high loads known to those with ordinaryskill in the art, including a range of metals, plastics, and fabrics.The material of the cover panel 22 may also be flexible, such as a wovenpolypropylene, woven nylon, or other strong, flexible materials known tothose with ordinary skill in the art; the cover panel 22 may be the samematerial as the elements of the storage body 10 described above.

The cover handles 24 are attached to the cover panel 22 at each end ofthe cover handle 24 to create a loop. The cover handles 24 arepositioned on opposite sides 22B and 22D of the cover panel 22, biasedtoward side 22C as shown in FIG. 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 5, two cover handles 24 are attached to each cover panel 22, onecover handle on each of two opposite sides 22B, 22D, but one withordinary skill in the art would understand that the positioning andnumber of the cover handles 24 could vary. The cover handles 24 may bethe same material as the cover panel 22, or may be any other materialcapable of supporting high loads known to those with ordinary skill inthe art, including a range of metals, plastics, and fabrics.

The cover fastener receiving passageways 26 are positioned on and extendthrough the cover panel 22 along opposite sides 22B, 22D. In theexemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the cover fastener receivingpassageways 26 are circular elements incorporated into the cover panel22. As would be understood by one with ordinary skill in the art, thecover fastener receiving passageways 26 may be made of any shape andmaterial, including a plastic or metal material, which forms apassageway extending through the cover panel 22. Also in the exemplaryembodiment of FIGS. 1-6, two cover fastener receiving passageways 26 arepositioned spaced apart on each side 22B, 22D, with one cover fastenerreceiving passageway 26 positioned at a corner of each side 22B, 22D andside 22C. As would be understood by one with ordinary skill in the art,the cover fastener receiving passageways 26 may vary in number andpositioning.

The plurality of grips 30 are best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Each grip 30is a symmetrical elongated member having a pair of opposite grip ends 32and a center section 34 connecting the opposite grip ends 32. Each grip30 may be an elongated closed loop; as shown in the exemplary embodimentof FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the grip ends 32 may be semicircular shapes andthe center section 34 may be a pair of parallel straight membersconnecting the semicircular grip ends 32. One with ordinary skill in theart would understand that the grip 30, grip ends 32, and center section34 could be a range of shapes. The grips 30 may be the same material ascover handles 24, or may be any other material capable of supportinghigh loads known to those with ordinary skill in the art, including arange of metals, plastics, and fabrics.

A fastener 40 of the plurality of fasteners 40 is best shown in FIGS. 3and 4. Each fastener 40 is an elongated member having a first end 42 andan opposite fastening end 44. A first fastening element 44A, as shown inFIG. 4, is disposed on the fastening end 44. The fastener 40 may alsohave a plurality of second fastening elements 46 disposed along thelength of the fastener 40 that securely fasten to the first fasteningelement 44A. The fastener 40 may be any durable, flexible material knownto those with ordinary skill in the art, including a variety ofplastics. One with ordinary skill in the art would also understand thatthe first fastening element 44A and second fastening elements 46 may bea variety of different forms capable of being securely fastened; thefastening connection of the first fastening element 44A and secondfastening elements 46 may be disconnectable and re-usable, ordisconnection may require destruction of the fastener 40. The fastener40 may be in the form of a known zip tie.

The assembly of the mobile waste storage device 1 will now be described.

Each cover section 20 is attached from the side 22A to an edge of one ofthe second side panels 14A, 14B opposite the bottom panel 16. The coversections 20 are thus disposed opposite of one another on the mobilewaste storage device 1, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As would beunderstood by one with ordinary skill in the art, each cover section 20could alternatively be attached to first side panels 12A, 12B, in whichcase the body fastener receiving passageways 18 would be positioned onthe second side panels 14A, 14B. Each cover section 20 may be attachedto one of the second side panels 14A, 14B by stitching, gluing, weldingor other means of attachment known to those with ordinary skill in theart, including fasteners and adhesives. Alternatively, each coversection 20 may be integrally formed with the storage body 10, extendingfrom the top of the second side panels 14A, 14B.

The plurality of grips 30 are disposed around and attached to the secondside panels 14A, 14B and bottom panel 16 of the storage body 10, asshown especially in FIGS. 1 and 6. The grips 30 are positioned such thateach grip end 32 extends the same distance above the storage body 10, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the center section 34 is attached to secondside panel 14A, bottom panel 16, and opposite second side panel 14B.Each grip 30 may be attached to the second side panels 14A, 14B andbottom panel 16 by stitching, gluing, welding or other means ofattachment known to those with ordinary skill in the art, includingfasteners and adhesives. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1,2, 5, and 6, two grips 30 extend around the storage body 10 spaced apartalong the length of second side panels 14A, 14B. One with ordinary skillin the art would understand that the number and positioning of the grips30 could vary.

Now, usage of the mobile waste storage device 1 will be described.

An open position of the mobile waste storage device 1 is shown in FIGS.5 and 6. In the open position, a user may insert waste or othermaterials into the waste receiving space 19. The open cover sections 20are positioned over the grip ends 32 in this position such that the gripends 32 do not interfere with the waste receiving space 19. When theuser is finished filling the waste receiving space 19, the user closesthe cover sections 20. The cover sections 20 pivot around side 22Aconnected to the storage body 10. The user may use the cover handles 24to aid in pivoting each cover section 20 from the open position shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 to the closed position shown in FIG. 1.

In the closed position, the cover fastener receiving passageways 26 ofeach cover section 20 overlap and align with one another, as shown ingreater detail in FIG. 4. As also shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, a pair ofoverlapped cover fastener receiving passageways 26 are adjacent to eachbody fastener receiving passageway 18.

A user may secure the cover sections 20 to the storage body 10 using thefasteners 40. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a first end 42 is threadedthrough the overlapped cover fastener receiving passageways 26 into thewaste receiving space 19, out of the waste receiving space 19 throughthe body fastener receiving passageway 18, and first fastening element44A is fastened to second fastening element 46 outside of the mobilewaste storage device 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1,four fasteners 40 are used, corresponding to the number of body fastenerreceiving passageways 18 and the number of cover fastener receivingpassageways 26 on each cover section 20. The fastener 40 creates adurable closed loop securely fastening the cover sections 20 and storagebody 10 via the cover fastener receiving passageways 26 and bodyfastener receiving passageway 18.

The closed and fastened mobile waste storage device 1 is show in FIG. 1.In this position, the grip ends 32 are exposed. A user can move themobile waste storage device 1 using the grip ends 32, an example ofwhich will be described below. The use of fasteners 40 in the closedposition of the mobile waste storage device 1 enables material withinthe waste receiving space 19 to be reliably contained during movement.

Exemplary uses of the mobile waste storage device 1 will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 7-11.

FIGS. 7-9 show the use of the mobile waste storage device 1 with aself-propelled trailer 50 having an extending storage bin 60. Theself-propelled trailer 50 has a frame 52, wheels 53, a plurality ofstabilizers 54, a drive system 56, and an extension device 58. Theplurality of stabilizers 54 may support the frame 52, which is alsosupported by the wheels 53 and connected to the extension device 58. Thedrive system 56 is connected to and controls the wheels 53, thestabilizers 54, and the extension device 58.

The storage bin 60 has a bin body 62, a tailgate 63, and a pair of bincover sections 64. The bin body 62 may be a rectangular parallelepipedwith a framed metal structure, but one with ordinary skill in the artwould understand that the bin body 62 may be manufactured usingdifferent shapes and other materials, such as lumber, composite or aframed metal structure on which a plurality of wood planks are arranged.The tailgate 63 forming one side of the bin body 62 may rotate outwardvia a hinge connection. Each bin cover section 64 is a planarrectangular structure connected to upper outer edges of the bin body 62via additional hinges. A pair of stops 66, which determines the angle atwhich the bin cover section 64 is positioned in an open position, areprovided and positioned along a common side at opposite ends of eachcover section 64. The storage bin 60 is secured to the extension device58, for instance, using a mechanical weld. However, one skilled in theart should appreciate that other fastening mechanisms could be used,including, nuts and bolts, screws, and adhesives.

To use the mobile waste storage device 1 with the self-propelled trailer50 and extending storage bin 60, a user first positions the mobile wastestorage device 1 in an open storage bin 60. The mobile waste storagedevice 1 is positioned such that the storage body 10 and grips 30 fitwithin the storage bin 60. Each cover section 20 overlaps one bin coversection 64; the stops 66 hold the bin cover sections 64 and coversections 20 open at an angle with respect to the storage bin 60, asshown in FIG. 7.

In applications in which the waste is not at ground level, such as theroofing tile waste 100 shown in FIG. 7, a user may operate the drivesystem 56 to position the stabilizers 54 and extend the extension device58 attached to the storage bin 60. As shown in FIG. 7, a user can thenraise and position the open mobile waste storage device 1 in closeproximity to the waste 100 for collection.

When the user has finished collecting waste 100, the user may use thedrive system 56 to lower the extension device 58 and raise thestabilizers 54, returning the self-propelled trailer 50 and storage bin60 to the position shown in FIG. 8. A user may then close and secure themobile waste storage device 1 using the fasteners 40 as described above.In this state, shown in FIG. 8, the secured mobile waste storage device1 may be transported to a different location by the self-propelledtrailer 50 via operation of the drive system 56 and wheels 53. When theuser has reached the destination location of the mobile waste storagedevice 1, the user may offload the mobile waste storage device 1 byusing the drive system 56 to open the tailgate 63 and operate a portionof the extension device 58 that tips the storage bin 60. The secured andclose mobile waste storage device 1 then slides out of the storage bin60 at the desired location, as shown in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the use of the mobile waste storage device 1with a self-propelled crane 70. The self-propelled crane 70 includes aframe 72, a plurality of wheels 73, a plurality of stabilizers 74, acontrol system 75, a flatbed 76, a self-propelled crane arm 77, and alifting strap 78. The frame 72 may be supported by the wheels 73 or theplurality of stabilizers 74, both of which are connected to andcontrolled by the control system 75. The frame 72 supports the flatbed76. The self-propelled crane arm 77 is positioned on the frame 72, andis extendable to reach locations outside the footprint of theself-propelled crane 70. The self-propelled crane arm 77 is alsocontrolled by the control system 75.

A user may use the self-propelled crane 70 to load and relocate themobile waste storage device 1. When a user has finished loading waste orother materials into the mobile waste storage device 1, as describedabove, the user closes the cover sections 20 and secures the coversections 20 to each other and the storage body 10 using the fasteners40; this results in a closed and secured mobile waste storage device 1with exposed grip ends 32 as shown in FIG. 1.

In an application in which the closed and secured mobile waste storagedevice 1 is positioned on the ground, a user may operate the controlsystem 75 to control the wheels 73 and position the self-propelled crane70 adjacent to the mobile waste storage device 1. The control system 75may also be used to position the plurality of stabilizers 74 to supportthe frame 72. A user then positions the lifting strap 78 to extendthrough the plurality of exposed grip ends 32. Using the control system75, the user may operate the self-propelled crane arm 77 to attach to apoint on the lifting strap 78 which supports the plurality of exposedgrip ends 32, as shown in FIG. 10. The user may then operate theself-propelled crane arm 77 to lift and position the mobile wastestorage device 1 on the flatbed 76, as shown in FIG. 11. After raisingthe plurality of stabilizers 74 using the control system 75, the usermay operate the wheels 73 to relocate the closed and secured mobilewaste storage device 1.

Advantageously, the mobile waste storage device 1 of the presentinvention permits flexible usage to collect waste and secure containmentof waste or other material. In the exemplary embodiments describedabove, the mobile waste storage device 1 may be lifted, transported, andoffloaded without risk of spilling the contained material; theseadvantages would also extend to other applications involving moving themobile waste storage device 1.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile waste storage device, comprising: a storage body having a plurality of side panels providing a waste receiving space and a plurality of body fastener receiving passageways positioned through opposite side panels of the plurality of side panels, the plurality of body fastener receiving passageways having: a first pair of body fastener receiving passageways facing each other and positioned on the opposite side panels; and a second pair of body fastener receiving passageways positioned facing each other and positioned on opposite side panels, the second pair of body fastener receiving passageways positioned adjacent to the first pair of body fastener receiving passageways on the opposite side panels; and a first cover section of a pair of cover sections extending from the storage body from one side thereof and having: a first pair of first cover fastener receiving passageways positioned and extending through a distal end portion thereof and corresponding and align with the first pair of body fastener receiving passageways; and a second pair of first cover fastener receiving passageways extending there through and positioned to correspond and align with the second pair of body fastener receiving passageways; and a second cover section of the pair of cover sections extending from the storage body from an opposite side with respect to the first cover and extendable over the first cover section to cover the waste receiving space, the second cover section having: a first pair of second cover fastener receiving passageways positioned and extending through a distal end portion thereof and positioned to correspond and align with the second pair of body fastener receiving passageways and the second pair of first cover fastener receiving passageways; and a second pair of second cover fastener receiving passageways extending there through and positioned to correspond and align with the first pair of body fastener receiving passageways and the first pair of first cover fastener receiving passageways.
 2. The mobile waste storage device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fasteners, each fastener extending through one of the first pair of first cover fastener receiving passageways, one of the first pair of body fastener receiving passageways, and one of the second pair of second cover fastener receiving passageways.
 3. The mobile waste storage device of claim 2, wherein the storage body is a rectangular body.
 4. The mobile waste storage device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners forms a loop enclosing a portion of the first cover section, a portion of the second cover section, and a portion of the one of the plurality of side panels.
 5. The mobile waste storage device of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of grips extending from the plurality of cover sections.
 6. The mobile waste storage device of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of grips is an elongated closed loop having a pair of grip ends and a center section.
 7. The mobile waste storage device of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of grips is disposed around and attached to the storage body.
 8. The mobile waste storage device of claim 7, wherein grip ends of each of the plurality of grips extend above the storage body in the closed position.
 9. The mobile waste storage device of claim 1, wherein the storage body and the pair of cover sections are made from a flexible material.
 10. The mobile waste storage device of claim 9, wherein the storage body and the pair of cover sections are made from a polypropylene material. 